The March Madness bracket is one of the sporting world's biggest and most challenging betting events. The bracket is a pre-tournament prediction on the outcome of every game in the NCAA Tournament. The idea is to correctly select the result of each game right through every round of the tournament. Research conducted by the NCAA estimates that the odds of hitting on all the games is 1 in 120 billion. With a near impossible chance of picking every game correctly, most bracket fillers look to choose a correct Final Four and the eventual champion. There are many different approaches and statistical categories to consider when filling out a bracket.
The three statistical areas to research before making a bracket are the strength of schedule, home/road splits and victories against ranked opponents. These categories show which teams are most successful under the bright lights and suit up a roster that is at its best against the highest level of competition. These stats are important for determining upsets. One of the most exciting and challenging parts of March Madness is trying to predict the inevitable upsets. Missing on any upset, especially if it ousts a top-seeded team, can destroy anyone's bracket. Look for the lower seeded teams that played the toughest schedules and managed the most wins against top-10/top-25 opponents to pull early round upsets, or perhaps a higher-seeded team that suffered some late-season injuries to a key player or players.
One last thing to consider is the pre-tournament polls. Many bettors and fans may look to the AP Polls before starting their bracket. While this can be telling of a team's talent, the best team during the regular season rarely wins. It's happened just once since 2001 and only four times since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. However, picking a one seed isn't a bad strategy. Nine of the past 12 March Madness winners started the tournament as a No. 1 seed.
Today's March Madness Schedule
While filling out and following a bracket may be one of the most enthralling aspects of the tournament, bettors can wager on every game throughout the tournament at any of our partner sportsbooks. Check this page after every game and round to see updated lines for upcoming games and get helpful betting tips so you can continue to enjoy March Madness. If your bracket is already busted, hitting on a couple of NCAA Tournament wagers can more than make up for the disappointment.
March Madness TV Schedule
Canadians looking to watch March Madness will find a variety of games available on TSN and the TSN app. Other games will broadcast on CBS and Turner Network channels. The Final Four and Championship will air exclusively on TSN and CBS. The last option is to go directly to the NCAA website to stream games, which for anyone without a TV package or subscription service would be their best option.